Montana Rep Theatre brings show to Plains

The auditorium was dark as the actors of the Montana Repertory Theatre each stepped onto the stage to tell their story - which was also mostly dark - of their times in combat in the Middle East.

The play "Reentry" was a compilation of narratives from Marines in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq during the 2000s and how it impacted them and their family back in the states. The five actors took on the lives of Marines and family members to tell their stories.  Just over 30 people attended the 90-minute play at the new Plains School gymnasium last Tuesday evening. Ticket price was $12 for adults and $8 for children. Plains High School Drama Club members Hailee Steinebach, Dawson Brown, Greg Tatum and Django Oakcedar helped set up the stage.

"They have a legacy and history of exceptional work," Plains School Superintendent Thom Chisholm said of the Montana Repertory Theatre actors. "They are incredible; we are so blessed to have them come here." The play, written by Emily Ackerman and K.J. Sanchez, was "an unflinching look at the lives of Marines getting ready for and returning from combat," according to Michael Legg, the play's artistic director. Legg said the docudrama is based on interviews with real members of the Marine Corps, wives and Marines' mothers. Because a lot of Montanans are veterans, Legg felt it was important that people hear and understand the stories and experiences of those who served.

The Plains gig for the Montana Repertory Theatre was its last of a five-year gift from Blackfoot Communications and the Clark Fork Enrichment Corporation, a nonprofit organization in Sanders County. The Montana Repertory Theatre is part of the University of Montana and is celebrating its 55th season. Legg and the rest of the cast - Stephanie Mattos, Kelly Quinnett, Mark Kuntz, Joe Metcalfe and Roberto Mantica - have done "Reentry" five times so far this year, but this was their first performance outside Missoula. They'll soon head to Bozeman, Billings and Malmstrom Air Force Base at Great Falls next week. Plains was the group's only stop in Sanders County.

Legg said everyone in the cast has family members with military ties. Quinnett, who portrays Phyllis, a Marine mother, and Maria, a Marine wife, has a son-in-law in the Marine Corps and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2018. Legg said the play explores the challenges of Marines that were coping with their return to civilian life and those preparing to return to combat.

The actors spoke to the audience as though they were being interviewed. The monologues are actual words taken from Marines who had been in combat situations and gave vivid descriptions of battle. They discussed their wounds, physical and emotional, how they were waiting to go back into action or adjusting to civilian life. The CO (commanding officer) played by Kuntz, talked about the feelings he had for his troops, the way they handled themselves in combat situations and how disturbing the treatment was for troops at military hospitals at home. He admitted that he might have some psychological problems associated with combat, but would never make it official because he didn't want to ruin his career.

The play's writers wanted it to be as realistic as possible and much of the dialogue is done in a colorful and profane language, which bothered some in the audience, such as Deanna LaPierre, who served in the Marine Corps for two years in the 1970s. She admitted that she had heard that kind of "vulgar" language from fellow Marines while stationed at Camp Lejuene, North Carolina, but she felt they overused it in the play. She was also surprised it was done that way in a school setting, where children attended.

"I understand that it might not be to everyone's taste, but I think it's important that we hear these stories," said Legg, who has been a director for 30 years and with Montana Repertory Theatre for the last four years. Others in the audience, such as Air Force veteran Jesse Jermyn, who spent several years in war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan, said the language wasn't a problem for the play. Jermyn enjoyed the play and felt that it represented some of the people he served with overseas. "I think it was intended to show it's not like the movies and that there is a dark aspect," said Jermyn, who retired as a master sergeant after 20 years in the Air Force and is now the school's maintenance supervisor.

"I liked the play," said Ryon Noland, the Plains High School principal. "Given this production was based on actual interviews I felt it probably is what some veterans of the last 20-ish years feel and struggle with," said Roland, who felt that portraying the veterans through a television screen interview setting was a unique and interesting aspect that kept the audience's attention. 

The play jumped around from veteran to veteran and from wives to mother. The names were changed for privacy purposes, but the verbiage was real. Mantica played Staff Sgt. Tommy, who had been blinded in an explosion that killed his friend. He also portrayed 21-year-old Lance Corporal Charlie.

Metcalfe played John and Pete during the performance. Pete wanted to stay in the military but lost an eye in battle. He liked the military because he could "blow things up." He often visited the wounded in the hospital. Captain John was happy he was not being shot at, but unhappy that he couldn't shoot at someone else. He felt that he no longer fit in with civilian life. He was interviewed with his wife, Maria (Quinnett). Phyllis, Tommy's mother, also Quinnett, supported her son's decision to return to duty, but was not happy about it. Some talked about getting drunk, motorcycles, problems with "punks on skateboards," and some were upset because of the way they were treated when they returned to civilian life. Suzanne (Mattos) knew her husband had psychological problems and said she was cautious about the way she woke him up. They eventually divorced. 

Legg said he's proud of the cast. "It takes a lot of time and rehearsal to take the words of actual veterans and make them come alive," said Legg. "Mostly, I think the play portrays one family's strength and closeness through difficult times." Despite the play's often rough language, he believes the play showed a lot of humor and humanity. He added that the dark side of the play was a matter of perspective. "Most of the former service members who've seen the show have come up to me afterwards and talked about how good it felt to have their stories told in a way that recognizes the hard times they went through while still treating them as human."